Searcy Children’s Homes is now enrolled in the Kroger Community Rewards Program! So when you shop as usual at Kroger, a portion of your purchase is refunded to the agency. It’s Easy… just shop, swipe your card & earn dollars to support the work being done at Searcy Children’s Homes.

Each individual must enroll their own Kroger Plus Card to participate. Simply visit KrogerCommunityRewards.com and “link” your Kroger Plus Card to Searcy Children’s Homes. Our agency’s Rewards # is 81426. The information is used to update your Kroger Plus Card and needs to be extremely accurate. Incorrect information would impact offers in the mail, fuel rewards and other special promotions. All Participants must re-enroll each year to continue earning awards during the coming year.

On Friday, May 4th, one hundred and twenty golfers gathered for the 12thannual Max Clark Memorial Golf Tournament at The Course at River Oaks. However, the real reason they were there didn’t have anything to do with golf. Twelve years ago, this tournament was started by Max Clark who single-handedly created an annual charity golf tournament to benefit Searcy Children’s Homes which since 1974 has provided foster care among other services to abused and neglected children in Arkansas. After his passing, the board of Searcy Children’s Homes gave his name to the tournament

which remains one of the agency’s largest fund-raising events. In addition to the golf teams, more than 100 business and individual sponsors contributed to the event and dozens of others provided prizes, give-aways, and silent auction items. Combined, their generosity raised more than $30,000 to help Searcy Children’s Homes expand its services and increase the number of children served by fifty percent in 2012. That is what it is all about; helping the children. Searcy Children’s Homes mission is “Planting Seeds of Hope” in children and families, providing for the tools for spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth. Searcy Children’s Homes wishes to congratulate the flight winners and thank each participant for their generosity.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Searcy Children’s Homes encourages the church to play a role in making White County and greater Arkansas a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social, emotional, and spiritual well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.

The community plays an important role in protecting children. The church has an even greater responsibility, given by God, to care for those who cannot care for themselves. Hundreds of children, within our own community have been the victims of abuse and neglect in the last year. It is our job to work together with our community to share eternal hope, encourage positive outcomes for families and be a light to those who are struggling.

How?

Help us connect with families within churches of Christ who are interested in foster care

Facilitate partnerships with church leaderships to help congregations minister to this need

10. There is no other ministry that can affect so many lives – the child, their biological parent(s) that want to change their lives, or the adoptive parents that are longing to give their love to a child that has no other place to call their home.

9. Loving a foster child forces out my self-seeking, selfish form of love and encourages me to love them like Jesus.

8. The children will capture your heart and you’ll never be the same again.

7. It gives an ounce of hope for a seemingly hopeless situation.

6. You receive support, advocacy, and a sense of community with other Christian foster families through Searcy Children’s Homes.

5. You get to be a real superhero to a child who really needs one (capes are optional).

4. James 1:27 – you will be practicing pure religion.

3. You get to teach your child that service is a way of life, not something you do when the mood strikes.

2. You’ll never know, this side of heaven, how much good you’ll do in a child’s life.

1. It is what Jesus would do.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent through Searcy Children’s Homes, please contact Kim Wilson at kim@searcychildrenshomes.org or (501)268-3243